AI-Powered Insight for Photographers
Photic.ai (Photograph Critic) lets you see your image through the eyes of others — powered by state-of-the-art AI gaze simulation and visual critique.
Why Use Photic.ai?
See What Draws the Eye
Get attention heatmaps and scanpaths powered by DeepGaze III, a model trained on real human eye-tracking data.
Get a Professional Edge
Receive unbiased critique from AI modeled after expert photography judges — helping you identify strengths and weaknesses.
Optimize for Impact
Use visual attention insights to refine composition and storytelling — guiding the viewer’s gaze with purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this work?
Upload your image and choose the number of fixation points. Our AI simulates human eye movements and generates an attention heatmap, a predicted scanpath, and a professional interpretation.
What’s the science behind it?
The analysis uses DeepGaze III — a neural network trained on real human eye-tracking data — to predict where viewers are most likely to look first, and in what sequence.
What happens to my images?
A small low-resolution versions of your image is stored in the cloud, along with the generated heatmaps and scanpath overlays. You can view past results in your history while logged in.
Can I use this for contests or critiques?
Absolutely. The tool helps photographers understand how images might be perceived by viewers or judges — invaluable for competition prep and refinement.
Example Model Output
Original Image
Attention Heatmap
Predicted Scanpath
Result Interpretation – Fox with Prey
Attention Patterns
The heatmap and scanpath confirm immediate viewer focus on the fox’s eyes — sharp, forward, and intense. Secondary fixations land on the soft foreground blur, which at first reads as distraction, but on closer inspection contributes to a layered narrative. The tension between sharp subject and blurred form evokes depth and story rather than confusion.
Subject Assessment
The fox is well-placed, sharply rendered, and unmistakably the focal point. What might be missed at first is that it's holding a rabbit — a detail that elevates the frame from portrait to predator-prey moment. The blurred foreground rabbit is not a flaw, but a supporting element that enriches the storytelling.
Technical Execution
Focus on the fox’s eyes is precise, and depth of field is used intentionally to isolate the subject while retaining enough texture for environmental context. Colors are cohesive and natural, with warm tones unifying the scene. Slight tonal separation between subject and setting could strengthen clarity, but overall execution is technically solid.
Composition & Storytelling
This is where the image excels. The placement of the fox, its eye contact, and the layered inclusion of prey — both in-mouth and foreground — craft a narrative that’s subtle yet powerful. The viewer is invited to interpret rather than spoon-fed context, which gives the image depth and replay value. It's not just a beautiful animal; it's a moment of survival, frozen in tension.
Post-Processing Suggestions
- Light boost to contrast on the fox to ensure it stands out further from similar-toned background
- Slight midtone brightening on the fox’s fur for enhanced texture
- Very gentle vignette to reinforce focus without compromising the openness of the scene
Summary
This is a quietly dramatic wildlife image. Its strength lies in the layered composition — subject, action, and aftermath all contained in a single frame. Minor tonal refinements could enhance clarity, but the image already tells a complete, compelling story. Final verdict: professional quality with narrative strength and visual restraint.
Ready to see how your images hold up?
Sign up now — it's fast, easy, and you'll get 5 free credits to analyze your own photos. There is no catch.
Upload Your Image for Analysis
Photic.ai will simulate a viewer's visual journey through your image and provide a detailed interpretation along multiple dimensions.
Attention Patterns
See exactly where viewers look first and how their gaze travels through your image
Actionable Edits
Get detailed post-processing recommendations to enhance your image's impact
Professional Critique
Learn if your image would succeed in a professional context or competition
Analysis may take 2-3 minutes. You can come back later to view results in your history.
Image Upload Tips & System Guidance
- Upload a JPG file, ideally under 2MB and at least 1024px on the longest side. Larger files will be resized automatically.
- Your image is securely stored in a cloud storage bucket and will be available in your history tab.
- Analysis may take a few minutes if the server needs to start — subsequent images will be processed much faster.
- You may close the page and return later — all results are saved and accessible in the History tab.
- Use descriptive file names — currently, there's no feature to add titles or notes (this is coming soon!).
- Each analysis deducts 1 credit from your balance — only once processing is complete.
- Image interpretation is powered by a customized language model that simulates expert photographic critique. This feature is under development.
- Interpretation results may vary, particularly on unusual, highly artistic, high-key, or low-key images.
- Each analysis simulates approximately 5 seconds of viewer attention (20 fixation points at ~250ms each).